48 killed in Bihar lightning strikes

Patha: At least 48 persons including women and children were killed and dozens injured by lightning in different parts of Bihar in the 24 hours to Wednesday morning, an official said.

An official of the state disaster management department confirmed that five people were killed by lightning in Rohtas district followed by four each in Patna, Aurangabad, Nalanda and Purnea.

According to the official, three each were killed in Buxar, Saran, Kaimur, Saharsa and Katihar district.

Two each were killed in Bhojpur, Samastipur, Bhagalpur, Monghyr and Madhepura district and one each in West Champaran and Gaya district.

In Patna and Rohtas alone, 16 people were injured by the lightning.

Over a dozen people were also injured in Kosi region of Saharsa.

Five people including a minor student were killed when they were returning home on Tuesday evening in Rohtas, a district official said.

The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the victims' families.

Lighting strikes during the monsoon season which started from the second week of June to October is common in Bihar.

The rains that started earlier this week were the first of this monsoon season.